
Niki Standring Head of Events
View Niki Standring“What I love about this work is that the connections people make here often outlast the event itself. That's what we're really building.”
Niki Standring Head of Events
Meet the Saxton Bampfylde team. Consultants, researchers, advisors and the support colleagues who, together, bring deep sector knowledge and a genuine instinct for exceptional leadership.

View Niki Standring“What I love about this work is that the connections people make here often outlast the event itself. That's what we're really building.”
Niki Standring Head of Events

View Jonathan Whymark“Leadership models may change but leadership is always about people. It’s about getting the best from others in ways that motivate, engage, and energise teams and individuals while achieving results through others.”
Jonathan Whymark Occupational Psychologist

View Vidhu Sood-Nicholls“Humility and curiosity tell you far more about a leader than confidence alone. I pay close attention to how people reflect on their impact, especially when they think no one is watching.”
Vidhu Sood-Nicholls Consultant


View Rosie Kerr“Every organisation is different, and taking the time to really understand what an appointment means for their values and mission is what makes this work so compelling.”
Rosie Kerr Project Co-ordinator

View Stephen Bampfylde“Leaders at their best speak from authentic, deeply held and articulate values.”
Stephen Bampfylde Co-Founder & Non-Executive Chair

View Shulie Aktar“The most rewarding moments come from the relationships. When a candidate feels genuinely understood, and when a client tells you the appointment has made a real difference.”
Shulie Aktar Project Manager, Schools' Practice

View Annabel Russell-Wilks“The variety of roles, sectors and people we encounter is always so interesting. Every search is different, and it’s rewarding to help ensure each process runs smoothly.”
Annabel Russell-Wilks Project Co-ordinator

View Rhianna Connolly“Seeing the difference the right leadership can make for staff, students and communities is what keeps this work meaningful.”
Rhianna Connolly Consultant


View Sophie Tredinnick“I’m always interested in what shapes a person into the leader they are today, and what they have learned in that process. Leadership isn’t just about delivery - it’s about empathy, kindness, and how you support others. It’s often what isn’t said that tells you the most.”
Sophie Tredinnick Head of Government Practice


View Gracie Linthwaite“Seeing thoughtful groundwork translate into real impact is what makes our work meaningful for me.”
Gracie Linthwaite Associate Consultant

View Augusta Bunting“A truly effective board is about the chemistry, clarity, and shared purpose that allows an organisation to thrive. Helping our clients find and build that balance is a privilege.”
Augusta Bunting Deputy Head of Board Practice



View Alycia Marquis“The most rewarding part of our work is placing someone in a challenging new role where they can thrive, grow, and help transform their organisation for the better.”
Alycia Marquis Researcher


View Ellie Dugdale“I’m fascinated by the nuances that make each organisation and leader unique. Guiding them toward alignment and meaningful outcomes ensures no two days, or projects, are ever the same.”
Ellie Dugdale Associate Consultant


View Claire Brooks“What motivates me is getting under the skin of a client and bringing them a diverse and high-quality list of people to consider, always starting with first principles and never reverting to the ‘same old names'.”
Claire Brooks Researcher

View Belinda Beck“The most fulfilling searches are the most challenging ones, when a client says that everything went seamlessly and candidates felt genuinely cared for throughout. Hearing a personal thanks from those candidates is the greatest reward of all.”
Belinda Beck Project Co-ordinator


View Eliza Cox“It is a privilege to contribute to an organisation that appoints impactful leaders across such a wide range of sectors. I am proud to play a part in that work.”
Eliza Cox Project Co-ordinator

View Christabel Ajediti“One of the greatest privileges of this role is that you never stop learning – about organisations, about leadership, and about people. Every conversation offers a new perspective, and every brief expands your understanding.”
Christabel Ajediti Co-Head of Research

View Jane Lewis“The moments I most enjoy are when we are able to surprise our clients with candidate profiles they weren’t expecting, and are excited by.”
Jane Lewis Researcher


View Alice Brent-Smith“Placing a candidate in a role where you know they'll thrive and hearing from them years later, still energised and making an impact - that's what makes this work meaningful.”
Alice Brent-Smith Researcher

View Aidan Kennedy“Working with leaders in the social impact space is endlessly inspiring. Every day we meet people dedicating their energy and talent to improving lives and building a more sustainable future.”
Aidan Kennedy Head of Social Impact Practice

View Maria Dodson“Every search has real people at the heart of it, making sure they feel valued and in good hands is what drives me every day.”
Maria Dodson Project Co-ordinator



View Cheryl Hollick“As an employee-owned company you really feel the difference. There's a shared pride in the work that I think comes through in everything we do.”
Cheryl Hollick Head of Marketing



View Alex Richmond“After more than a decade in this work, it’s still the variety and the impact that matter. No two organisations are the same, and helping them find leaders who can navigate complexity and deliver real results is endlessly rewarding.”
Alex Richmond Head of Health Practice

View Jonathan Morgan“The great privilege of my work is the diversity of the people I have the opportunity to meet and work with. ”
Jonathan Morgan Deputy Chair & Head of Regulation Practice

View Bianca de Santis“For me, the greatest reward comes from helping to place someone in a role they may not have thought possible for themselves, and supporting organisations to discover talent they might otherwise have overlooked.”
Bianca de Santis Researcher

View Emma Hattersley“The quality of leadership shapes everything in a school. Finding people who combine clarity, courage and care - and seeing the impact they go on to have - is a genuine privilege.”
Emma Hattersley Head of Schools' Practice

View Sarah Thomas“People strategy only works if people feel it. The moment someone feels seen and understood, that's when I know we've got it right.”
Sarah Thomas Head of People

View Eve Clark“What keeps this work interesting is the real-world impact. Placing the right leader in the right role can genuinely shape an organisation’s future.”
Eve Clark Researcher

View Grace Collier-Large“What is important is that clients feel genuinely understood. Not just their brief, but what they're really trying to achieve and why it matters.”
Grace Collier-Large Co-Head of Research





View Martin Reader“I have always seen schools as places of profound hope: we are about nurturing flourishing so that young people go out and influence the world for the better. ”
Martin Reader Senior Advisor to the Schools' Practice

View Kim Adams“I find genuine reward in finding the perfect fit: for the candidate, for the client, and for the communities their work exists to serve.”
Kim Adams Researcher

View Anna Lee“Every person and situation is different, and finding the right approach each time is what makes the work so interesting and rewarding.”
Anna Lee People Assistant


View Fiona Galliers-Pratt“One of the aspects of my role I particularly enjoy is talking to so many wonderful people – it’s a real privilege.”
Fiona Galliers-Pratt Researcher


View Rebecca Wallace“The role offers an unusually privileged vantage point into how organisations truly function, and there is real joy in that.”
Rebecca Wallace Associate Consultant

View Siân Wild“We speak to some extraordinary individuals, often placing them in hugely significant institutions. Following their achievements and the good work they do in these appointments is quite astonishing. ”
Siân Wild Researcher

View Mary Few“I pay closest attention to how a leader listens, how they speak about others, and how self-aware they are. Those signals tell me far more than polish or confidence ever could.”
Mary Few Consultant, Head of Scotland

View Victoria Blunt“I love being a steady presence for candidates before interview. I recognise in their nerves the same anticipation I once felt auditioning for significant roles. Offering reassurance and perspective at that moment is the part of the work I value most.”
Victoria Blunt Project Co-ordinator

View Caroline Stewart“I feel honoured to be part of an Employee Benefit Trust. The ability to speak openly and honestly about anything that affects colleagues is rare in most organisations.”
Caroline Stewart Researcher and Chair of Trustees

View Sophie Hedge“Every search has lots of moving parts. I enjoy helping bring them together so the process runs smoothly for both clients and candidates.”
Sophie Hedge Project Co-ordinator

View Ginny Jones“Leadership decisions often happen at moments of real pressure or ambition. Helping people think clearly at those points, and seeing the confidence that then follows, is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.”
Ginny Jones Consultant



View Neve Oliver“It’s a privilege to have thoughtful conversations with such a wide range of people while working on meaningful projects as part of a supportive and collaborative team.”
Neve Oliver Project Co-ordinator

View Louise McCarthy“What I value most is collaborating with remarkable organisations doing important work, where everyone involved feels supported and confident throughout.”
Louise McCarthy Project Co-ordinator

View Liz Brabyn“The work of executive search stays interesting to me because every search is about people, purpose, and potential, and identification of the right leadership that can change the trajectory of an organisation and the lives within it.”
Liz Brabyn Associate Consultant

View Eugenia Gonzalez“Sometimes the most impactful leaders aren’t those with the high-profile initiatives but those who quietly create the conditions for others to excel, making them feel safe to do what they do best.”
Eugenia Gonzalez Consultant, Head of Higher Education Practice

View Sophie Kerr“I enjoy working closely with colleagues across the firm and supporting teams behind the scenes. Helping projects run smoothly while developing the Project Coordinator team makes the role both engaging and rewarding.”
Sophie Kerr Project Co-ordinator

View Jennifer Addo“What matters to me is a thoughtful, honest process that leads to a placement that genuinely changes the trajectory of a team or a career.”
Jennifer Addo Researcher

View Alice Stobbs“It's fulfilling to find inspiring leaders and provide them with the platform to make a tangible impact on society.”
Alice Stobbs Researcher

View Rhys O’Connell-Davies“Every week brings new conversations, new relationships, and new challenges to unpick. Seeing projects move forward while building long-term partnerships makes the work continually rewarding.”
Rhys O’Connell-Davies Project Manager, Health Practice

View Anthony Wood“No two searches are ever the same. The variety - different sectors, different organisations at different moments in their life cycle - keeps life here endlessly interesting. The stakes are always real, the impact always genuine.”
Anthony Wood Associate Consultant

View Cassandra Woolgar“Experience and technical capabilities are essential but how an individual goes about their work, leads a team and reacts under pressure can make all the difference.”
Cassandra Woolgar Business Psychologist

View Brett Anderson“I value the opportunity to support organisations whose missions genuinely matter by helping them find leaders who can bring clarity, integrity, and ambition to complex challenges.”
Brett Anderson Consultant

View Kate Ludlow“The most important things in leadership are rarely the loudest. Judgement, humility, and how someone treats people when it’s difficult - that’s what I’m always listening for.”
Kate Ludlow CEO & Consultant